Narrative:

The right engine had been written up as being very slow to reach idle during start. Maintenance had said that it had been due to cold soaking, and that it started normally next time. With this information in mind we anticipated a slow start since the engine had cold soaked overnight in near-freezing WX. We started the engine and monitored it closely for any engine (exceeded limits). None occurred. But the engine took nearly 3 mins to reach idle. However, the maximum time allowed to reach idle is 90 seconds. The checklist says we should have discontinued the start at 90 seconds. We wrote it up once again and maintenance inspected it at the next stop and determined that no damage occurred and allowed it to continue.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN LGT EXCEEDED THE ENG IDLE START LIMIT TIME DURING STARTING AFTER ACFT WAS OVERNIGHT COLD SOAKED IN CANADA.

Narrative: THE R ENG HAD BEEN WRITTEN UP AS BEING VERY SLOW TO REACH IDLE DURING START. MAINT HAD SAID THAT IT HAD BEEN DUE TO COLD SOAKING, AND THAT IT STARTED NORMALLY NEXT TIME. WITH THIS INFO IN MIND WE ANTICIPATED A SLOW START SINCE THE ENG HAD COLD SOAKED OVERNIGHT IN NEAR-FREEZING WX. WE STARTED THE ENG AND MONITORED IT CLOSELY FOR ANY ENG (EXCEEDED LIMITS). NONE OCCURRED. BUT THE ENG TOOK NEARLY 3 MINS TO REACH IDLE. HOWEVER, THE MAX TIME ALLOWED TO REACH IDLE IS 90 SECONDS. THE CHKLIST SAYS WE SHOULD HAVE DISCONTINUED THE START AT 90 SECONDS. WE WROTE IT UP ONCE AGAIN AND MAINT INSPECTED IT AT THE NEXT STOP AND DETERMINED THAT NO DAMAGE OCCURRED AND ALLOWED IT TO CONTINUE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.